A status survey on Metagonimus yokogawai infection along the Tamjin River basin, South Cholla Do, Korea was conducted from September to November 1977. The snail intermediate host, Semisulcospira sp., the fish host, Plecoglossus altivelis and the inhabitants in three villages in Jangheung and Kangjin Guns were examined for detection of this trematode infection respectively. The results could be summarized as follows: Out of 452 snails, Semisulcospira sp., 105 (23.2%) were found positive for rediae and/or cercariae of M. yokogawai in Jangheung Gun. All of 20 sweetfishes, P. altivelis were infected with metacercariae of M. yokogawai and the mean number per fish was 15,688 and per gram of fish muscle, 234. Out of 606 inhabitants in three villages, 160(26.4%) persons were found infected with M. yokogawai and the mean E.P.G counts per infected cases were 2,078. Sixty cases (9.8%) were positive for ova of Clonorchis sinensis with mean E.P.G., 846, frequently mixed-infected with M. yokogawai. From the above results, it was turned out that the Tamjin River basin is one of the endimic foci of metagonimiasis in Korea. The relatively low infection rate of human host in spite of much higher infection of intermediate hosts were considered to be due to the less population of sweetfishes in the Tamjin River than in the Sumjin River basin.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; epidemiolgy

A night blood survey was carried out among inhabitants aged over 1 year from the fifteen villages throughout Cheju-Do (Quelpart Island). Blood films from 2,139 persons were examined and 183(8.6 percent) showed microfilariae, the incidences varying according to geographical sources are from 0.8 to 19.5 per cent. All the microfilariae found in this survey were of the nocturnal periodic Brugia malayi. The microfilarial density was 1.9 per cent of blood. The age and sex distributions of microfilaria rate in Cheju-Do were not distinctly different. On the other hand, the intradermal test using Dirofilaria antigen (FPT antigen) and clinical survey of filariasis were also undertaken in same areas of microfilaria survey. Out of 2,449 inhabitants examined 1,434(58.6 percent) persons showed positive reaction of skin test, 503(20.5 percent) persons have clinical manifestations and 112 (4.6 percent) persons showed elephantiasis . It is assumed that Aedes togoi may be the most probable vector of B. malayi in the areas of Cheju-Do.
parasitology ; helminth ; nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; epidemiolgy ; filariasis ; intradermal test ; blood

This study was performed to investigate the intestinal parasites (especially cestoda) in the guts of Theragra chalcogramma in Korea. The cestode larvae collected were morphologically observed and measured, and at the same time, microscopical study was done with the section slides of the cestode larvae. They were identified on the basis of the descriptions by Schmidt and Yamaguti. The results obtained in this study are as follows: The cestode larvae were identified as Khawia sinesis, Eulacistorhynchus chiloscyllius, Tentacularia coryphaenea, Pseudonybelinia odontacantha and Nybelinia lingualis. These are new species reported in Korea. The characteristics of Khawia sinesis are its scolex lacking loculi and broad, flat and fimbriate shape. Its neck is not separated from the body but a little constricted. Eulacistorhynchus chiloscyllius is characterized by fairly long and acraspedote scolex. The bulbs are long; retractor muscles are attached to bases of the bulbs. The two bothridia are oval or round in shape and lacking posterior notch. The tentacles are long and poeciloacanthus; double chainette present. Tentacularia coryphaenea is characterized by its long craspedote and subcylindrical scolex. The bothridia are separated, without free borders and spinous. The tentacles are short, slender, armed with solid hooks in spirals, similar except the base of tentacle. The tentacle sheaths are not twisted. The bulbs are ellipsoidal. Pseudonybelinia odontacantha is characterized by its craspedote scolex. The tentacles are inserted near anterior margin of bothridia and armed with hooks in spirals ascending left to right. The hooks are similar, throughout tentacle, with feeble curve and provided with a tooth-like protuberance on the ventral side. The bulbs are three times longer than its width. The posterior margins of bothridia have a pair of eversible ciliated pits; or fossettes. Nybelinia lingualis is characterized by its short and craspedote scolex. The bothridia are separated, with free boarders. The tentacles are cylindrical, armed with solid and similar hooks in quincunxes.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; epidemiolgy ; Khawia sinesis ; Eulacistorhynchus chiloscyllius ; Tentacularia coryphaenea ; Pseudonybelinia odontacantha ; Nybelinia lingualis

In order to determine the infestation patterns for metacercaria of digenetic trematodes, several kinds of fresh-water and brackish-water fish were caught in River Hyungsan, Kyungpook Province, Korea and examined from March to October in 1983. They were collected by netting, fishig with rod and line, or using the bait of crushed oil cake in transparent plastic bowls, and were dissected into the flesh, scales and fins with tail, and then examined for the presence and infestation density of larval trematodes. Of the 11 kinds of fish examined, the encysted larvae of Exorchis oviformis were found all of them, Metagonimus yokogawai from 9 kinds, Cyathocotyle orientalis, Metacercaria hasegawai and Metorchis orientalis from 6 kinds, and Clonorchis sinensis from 4 kinds in the present study. In the intensity of infestation with Clonorchis sinensis, the Korean shiner, Gnathopogon atromaculatus Nichols et Pope, was the most heavily infected species, the average number of metacercariae per gram of fish flesh being 45.5, followed by the striped shiner, Puntungia herzi Herzenstein 11.6, and Southern top-mouthed minnow, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Shlegel), 9.7. The intensity of infestation with the Metagonimus larvae in 8 species of fresh-water fish was relatively low, and the average number per gram of flesh varied from 0.23 to 9.1. In comparison, the brackish-water fish were more heavily infected and the mean number of cysts per gram of flesh in the sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis, was 32.9. The results of this study generally indicate that Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus yokogawai infection may occur by consuming raw fresh-water fish caught in the river Hyungsan, Kyungpook Province, Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; epidemiolgy ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Cyathocotyle orientalis ; Metacercaria hasegawai ; Metorchis orientalis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Gnathopogon atromaculatus ; Puntungia herzi ; Pseudorasbora parva